Korean Meat Farm Dogs Thriving Five Months After Rescue

PHOTOS: “Minnow” was adopted by Abbie Hubbard, deputy director of the Animal Welfare League of Alexandria. Minnow is likely a Korean breed called sapsaree. Harper, a black and tan shepherd mix, was adopted by Alexandria Animal Control Officer Alex Cooke and her fiancé, Alexandria Police Officer John Blake. Photos by Shelley Castle Photography

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Five months after being rescued from Korean meat farms, nearly two dozens dogs are enjoying a new lease on life at homes in Northern Virginia or they’re available for adoption at area shelters, according to the Animal Welfare League of Arlington (AWLA).

The dogs were rescued from a meat farm in Seoul, South Korea by Humane Society International in partnership with an alliance of Northern Virginia and District of Columbia animal shelters.

After a quarantine period, the dogs were dispersed among six local shelters in the DC metro area, including Animal Welfare League of Arlington, Animal Welfare League of Alexandria, Fairfax County Animal Shelter, Loudoun County Animal Services, City of Manassas Animal Control and Adoption Shelter and The Washington Animal Rescue League.

Previously, the dogs were kept in inhumane conditions and were once destined to be food. Now, the dogs have either been adopted into loving homes or are currently in foster homes receiving the enrichment they need while waiting to be adopted, according to the AWLA.

Bally, a six-month-old Shiba Inu and Jindo mix, was adopted from the Alexandria shelter by a Maryland family.

Below is a glimpse into the lives of two of the Korean dogs adopted from the Animal Welfare League of Alexandria:

Minnow

The first stop for the Korean dogs was the Animal Welfare League of Alexandria. The league’s deputy director, Abbie Hubbard, was on hand both nights to help transfer the dogs from their traveling crates to kennels and get them settled at the Vola Lawson Animal Shelter, which the League operates. In the back of her mind, Hubbard had a second mission: To check out a “shaggy terrier” said to be in the bunch, in case the dog might be a good fit for a pet for her. She has been looking for a terrier to complete her family.

The shaggy dog — a puppy — was the very last dog to appear, and it was love at first sight, Hubbard reports. “I spent time with her that night and she was all I could think about. She was clearly not a terrier, although she definitely was shaggy!”

After two weeks’ quarantine, Hubbard took the dog home, where she adapted quickly to Hubbard’s four parrots and immediately caught on to house training. A leg injury she had arrived with was corrected with surgery, and “Minnow,” as Hubbard calls her, began accompanying her on daily four-mile walks around a lake near their home in Springfield. Minnow needed no behavioral training — she is extremely friendly to everyone she meets and loves hanging out at the shelter with Hubbard. Online research showed that she likely is a Korean breed known as a sapsaree. Abbie Hubbard adds:

“Minnow is such a happy dog! She has a joy about her that is infectious. She is also gentle and responsive to other animals. I recently fostered a mom cat and her kittens over a long weekend, and Minnow took it on as her job to watch over the kittens. My parrots think she is a great play mate! They are constantly calling her over by name and have developed some interesting games. The parrots even share their treats with her! I feel so grateful to have Minnow be part of my family.”

Harper

Animal Control Officer Alex Cooke of the Animal Welfare League of Alexandria had a front-row seat to the arrival of the dogs from South Korea, specifically a litter of puppies that landed at the Alexandria shelter. Her fiancé, Alexandria Police Officer John Blake, is a Shiba Inu lover and took an interest in the puppies after reading about their life on a Korean meat farm. One of the puppies was gregarious from the start and allowed Blake to pick her up and hold her, even giving kisses. Three weeks after the dogs’ arrival in Alexandria, Cooke and Blake adopted her.

The black-and-tan puppy, named Harper, had a surprise in store for her new family: As she grew, she turned into more of a shepherd mix, much larger than a Shiba Inu. But there was little suspense in how well she blended with the couple’s “family” — another dog and a cat. Her loving personality was even on display when she met Cooke’s horse. Cooke says:

Harper is a hit wherever she goes. They love her at day care. Sometimes I forget how special she is; she could have been someone’s dinner. Her “brother pup,” Dexter, loves to dote on her and wrestle — they are perfect for each other. We feel so fortunate to have her every day.